Fence



(No Model.)

1). P. HENNINGER. Y

. FENCE.

No. 514,366. Patented Feb. 6,1894,

i Invezafar jggiiffiitniwez UNiTED STAT S P TENT Price,

DAVID P. HENNINGER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,366, dated February 6, 1894.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID P. Hnnnnrcnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of board fences and the object thereof is to provide a portable fence of this class, which shall be capable of rapid erection at low cost and have great strength and durability. It is my purpose, also, to provide a board fence which may be constructed in sections and in which the boards of one section shall be in substantial alignment with the corresponding boards of the adjoining sections, to increase the sim- 1 plicity and enhance the symmetrical and ornamental appearance of this class of fences; to avoid the necessity of sinking post-holes,

and to provide and combine with aboard fence a series of lateral braces of novel form, interposed between the ends of the adjoining fence-sections.

The invention consists, to these ends, in the novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claim which follows this specification,-

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to fully understand and to make, construct, and use the same, I will now proceed to describe said invention indetail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view, showing a portion of a board fence constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is an end elevation of one of the fence-sections. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the adjoining ends of two of the fence-sections, the braces being removed and the sections of fence slightly separated.

In the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates the separate fence-sections, any one of which is, in all essential respects, the counterpart of the other. Each section 1 is composed of aseries of flat, substantially horizontal boards 2, of suitable width, their ends being supported between cleats, or battenboards 3, to which they are secured by driving nails through all three members of the structure, and clinching them, this being a cheaper form of fastening them than screws, and affording equal strength. The cleats, or battens 3, project, preferably, somewhat below the lower edge of the bottom board in each section.

In the edges of the cleats or battens 3 of each fence section is cut, or formed, a diagonal slot, or channel 4:, passing through the edge of one of the cleats, or battens, beneath the lower edge of the upper board 2, and crossing the edge of the other cleat above the upper edge of the third board. The slot, or channel 4, in the cleats or battens 3 at the end of the adj oiningfenoe-section is cut, orformed, to cross the other slot, or channel, at an angle substantially similar to that of the slot described, and of substantially the same width. In the slots, or channels 4, are placed the lateral braces 5, which are preferably formed of the boarding composing the horizontal members of the fence-sections. The braces 5 cross each other, one resting in the slot or channel at the end of one fence section, and the other resting in the slot or channel atthe end of the adjacent fence section. Ihe lower ends of the braces are squared off and bear against the ground. In each brace is formed an aperture 6, which, when the fence is set up, is caused to register with the corresponding aperture in the adjacent brace and a pin 7 is then inserted in both, to prevent the slipping of one upon the other. The ends of said pin also project between the cleats, or battens 4, of each section of fencing, and thereby aid in preventing lateral displace ment. The edges of the slots or channels 4 constitute shoulders which bear against the crossing braces 5, whereby these braces are retained in position relative to each other and act against the upper shoulders to effectually prevent sagging or displacement of the ends of the fence sections.

In order to maintain a true alignment of the several fence-sections, part of the boards 2, in each section, are caused to project beyond the outer edges of the cleats, or battens 4, at one end of the section, the length of the projecting portions being somewhat greater than the interval separating the battens on one section from those upon the adjoining section. As shown in the drawings, each alter- ICC nate board is thus displaced, but I do not limit my invention to any special selection, as I may project the upper and lower boards, only, or even a single board. This projection at one end of a fence-section causes the boards to be drawn into the battens at the other end of said section, an equal distance, thereby providing space for the reception of the projecting extremities upon the adjoining section. In this manner I am not only enabled to use boards of uniform length, in forming each section, but the boarding throughout a series of fence sections will run in substantial alignment, thereby adding materially to the symmetrical and ornamental appearance of the fence, as a whole. I prefer to saw off the upper ends of the lateral braces 5 diagonally, or in lines which are substantially parallel with the fence-sections, as I thereby extend the braces to a greater height without sacrificing lumber.

By my invention I provide a light, strong, cheap and durable board-fence, capable of resisting great lateral strain, requiring no postholes, or posts, adapted to be erected with great speed and without requiring skilled labor, or special tools, having its successive lines of boards, in the several fence-sections, in true alignment, and presenting a neat, symmetrical and ornamental appearance.

What I claim is- A board fence, consisting of similar fence sections, each section composed of boards secured at each end between a pair of cleats or battens, each of which is formed with a slot or channel 4: to constitute upper and lower shoulders, and crossing braces 5 secured together by a transverse pin 7, one brace resting in the slot or channel of the cleats or battens at the end of one fence section, and the other brace resting in the slot or channel of the cleats or battens at the end of the adjacent fence section, whereby the upper shoulders formed by the slots or channels bear respectively against the crossing braces, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID P. HENNINGER.

Witnesses;

ISAAC WEIL, W. F. DYER. 

